Toy speaking phone



March 12, 1929 J, HI CONKUN 1,704,880

TOY SPEAKING PHON?| Filed Oct. l5, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR John Howell C'onklz'n,

V0 ATTORNEY March 12, 1929. CONKL'lN 1,704,880

TOY SPEAKI NG PHONE Filed Oct. l5, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR A John Howell Conklin,

I ATTORNEY CIL Patented Mar. 12, 1929. i y i" UNITED STATES PATENT oFFiCEI-l f JOHN HOWELL CONKLIN, OF EAST IILIVIPTON,`CONNEGTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF EAST HAMPTON, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION or CONNECTICUT.'

TOY SPEAKING PHONE.

Application filed October 15, 1924. Serial iTo. 743,677.

ttor a. signaling belly or gong, which gives an' audible signal upon Aal movement of some part Vor the apparatus, such as the receiver hook or the dial (when the dial type of phone is employed). y f

The present invention has incorporated, an element which may be used vin.conjunctioii withr a ringing signal, such as heretofore employed, or may be used without the. audible or ringing signals and may be actuatedby a moving element of the` telephone such as the transmitter or dial, or by an independent elcment. In any case, the apparatus hereinafter described will produce sounds or tones simulating a human voice or, of course, may be soy adapted as to reproduce voice sounds.

The main object of -theinvention which provides, in conjunction withv the. ktoy .telephone set, a speaking elementwhich, either by move'n'ient of the toy itself, or a. moving element thereof, or any extraneous'connection thereto` will emit sounds simulating or producing voice sounds. f

Referringto the drawings:

Figure l, is a view in elevation of the toy phone broken in section to illustrate the parts.

Figure 2, is a fragmentary view oi' the base :1nd standard illust-rated in Figure l, showing usual elements of a toytelephone.

Figure 3, :illustrates insfragmentary sec.

tion, a. modified arrangement; of the' speaker with a'coniiectioi'ijt'or operating the same' Yfroiiithe receiver hook.

Figure l, is a view similar to Figure 3, illustrating the speaker as operated by an independent lever.

i VFigure 5, isa modiiied view inelevation. illustrating the speakeror voice reproducer in the transmitter.,r Y Figure. 6, isa sectional view through, the

transmitter. f i

Figure 7 illustrates the applicationsQi a 'speaking mechanism similar to that of Fig ures 3 and 4f, a ranged in the receiver.

The several views of the vdra-wings, as above described, illustrate the various locations poseo'NG BELL sible 'for the speaker or reproducer and, as

shown inthe drawings, depict a simple type of mechanism en'iploying reeds which maybe so arr banged and tuned, to emit sounds simulating the voice. Thus, by proper grouping,

these may even be made to simulate word. soundssueh as hello, number please, what number or in. fact, any desired grouping ot sounds.

In place of these, ofcourse, itzis possible to use any type orn sound re'producii'ig` device or devices fork producing or reproducing Word sounds. In ifa-ct, it is quite possible toutilize l phonographic reproductions #by moving a o small record,.orseetion thereof, across thereproducing needle. The movement of the -record or needle can readily be secured by movement oie the movable element of the telephone such as the receiver or the dial or it may bc moved through some independent connection such as a pull cord` or lever. n n n Referring to the drawings, .1', indicates a base, 2, a stan'dai-CLB, a transmitter, and 4, a receiver. As illustrated in Figure 1, the reeeiver'isI mounted upon a receiver hook 5, which is in the form of a lever, connected Witha bell mechanisn'i Aor a bell 6, (the bell mechanism not being shownin detail). The lever 5, at

its inner end, is connectedthrough a suitable wire orcord"7v with'the movable member-"8,

`oit an. air piston, illustrated-inFigures'l; an d 2. This'air piston comprises weighted cover 9connectedwith a collapsible bellows 10, in a suitable manner. kan operating connection independentV of the@V This mechanism, as illustrated in Figures l vThe base `orv the standard may be suitably perforatedas at 14, 1.5, so that sounds pro duced within the base areclearly transmitted to theeXterioro the toy.4 Y

In Figure 2, a pull voord 16, with a kfinger ring 17,;passing over asuitable'guide 18, is

',aiicly, is.conveniently'arranged in a casing S712, having apeitures"'l3', to give ree access Vand ingress of air, as well as a free passage V of sounds.

'connected with, the inovableelement 8,0fthe CTI ' nient olf a piston 22, which is heldv at one limit o1 its play, by a spring 23.

The arrangements et the piston and multiple speakers 19, 20,'si1nulates ivordsounds such as hello and the Word sounds may be varied accordingv te the number and type oli speaker elenierts employed.'v 'lhe piston passes over the ccnnections 24;, 25, ol' the speakers and they arc alt calatelg. crt oil' by the pi :on 22,so that various con and seunlls may beproduced.V y

In Figure l, three or more speaker elenicnts, 26, 27, 28', are arranged in a cylinder 29, While a piston 30 lorces the air through the various speakers and cuts them oli one after the other.

n The piston 30, is pulled against a compression spring' 31, by a lever 32.

lt Will beobvious that a child may manipulate such ai device, as heretofore described, in variousnianners by 'increasing or diminishing thespeed oi movement ot the air ceinpressingjelement so that a great variety'and character ol" sound changes may be secured. This, et course, makes the toy more attractive to the child asA it can modify the' action et the sound producing speakers.

I Figures 3 and Ll, the speaking mechanism isentirely arranged Within the hollow upright 'standard of the tey,fin contiadis tinction to being arranged in the base ot the telephone, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

. In Figures 5 and G, there are the same gen eral elements, as illustrated in Figure 1, al-` c nations lthough the speaking,- sound mechanism is ar-V rangedV .in the transmitter 33 by a connection 34. Y p

VThis connection, as illustrated, is ot a cliarand is operated on or, oit course, it may be attached to sonie stationary'part of the telephone and a 1novement ot the transmitter, backward and ioriifardcn its pivot, 35, will serve to operate the speaker" mechanism.

The receiver hook of Fic'ure 5, is not illustratedy,vit being in back o ihestandard 36.

3T, illustrates a bell fer giving a` ringing sound in addition to the speaker sounds, and ot'ceurse, thecoiinecting element 3l, may be made tastto the receiver' hook so thata movement 'tliereo'tI will operate the speaker and the bell at the saine time, or as heretofore Vexplained, the connection 84, may be operated by hand independently of the ringing of the bell 37.

In tact, various combinatiens are contemplated as to the siniultanenous or"independ-k without specilic detailed showing olf the ccn-V -nections.

The spe; :Ver mechanismof igures 5 and 6, is substantially the saine as to elemental kform as that of Figures 1 and 2. vThere is a speaker 3S, secured in a suitable head 89, and extendinggl into the transmitter mouthpiece Ll0. Securcd'to the head 39,' is a collapsible element ll, which in turn is secured to the movable membe'r42, ot the air piston.

Y To the back of theineinber 42, is secured a guide tube 3, surrounded by spring all, which forces the member 42, forward to collapse the bellows iL-1, and force air through the speaker 88. A connecting cord or Wire serves'to vexpand the bellows against the spring 4a, when a pull is placed thereon. rlhe guide tube slides in a casing 45, of the transmitter', which may be conveniently drawn up as at 46, to provide a substantial bearing` for the guide tube e3. n In all ot' the several mechanisms herein dcscribed, employing speakers actuatedby cempressed air, the speakers arev sounded by the air pistons, ot' collapsible elements, vwhich compress the air, driving,` it through the speak- `which permit air to beldra-Wn back upon a reverse movement ot the piston or an expansion et the bellows. y ln lieu oit'arranging the speaking element ivitliin the base or :standard` or transmitter et the telephone set, it may veryv conveniently be placed in the rece ure 7.

rl'Che receiver 4,50 Figure 7, is bored as at 47,*counterbored as at 48, te rece e a cylinder 49, to which are atta 50, 51, each speaker'*ha*v ,l ra suitable d1 er opening.; 52, 53, connectir "the speelL the ,interior oi thercylinder lll). it fiin tl cylinder is arranged a` piston Wl ports 55, 56, 'lor the respective speaker ducts 572, 53, and the pieten is'lield to eneliinit oit Vits play by a spring 57. y aete'r which may be actuated by a pull theref A pull rod 58, connectedwitl the head et 4the piston 5l and with the s Jrinrr 57, entends through the end 59,'oi2 the cylinder and is eze made iastate the base el? the phone/in simulation olf a regular/'typeof desk pli-ene and it will be'obvio'us' th'atfa pull upon the receiver when held to the ear,i\villcauset-lie piston 54e, to compress air in the cylinder 49, and aco tuate the speakers 50, 51'.

' "lhe'ports`55, 5G, are so arrangedrelatively to the lductsV 52, 53, that the latterare alternately connected anddisconnected with the source of compressed air, therefore, the speakers will be actuated independently of each other and with a slight pause between the speaking ofV each of the elements.A ln thisA manner, werd soundsinay beijneduced.

hed the speakers iich has v iso In the form ol device illustrated in Figure 7, the entire speaker mechanism may be made up as a unit and placed in the boreot lthe receiver and suitably secured therein as by a pin 61, or otherfastening device.

It may further be protected from thechild by a perforated spring disc 62, which snaps into an annular groove 63.

The operation of the meclianism'will be quite apparent, and in its operation, a child has considerable latitude for testing'its skill introducing various sounds. The bell vor other sound producing mechanism 'lor ring` ing a signal will be ipii'st actuated and by then manipulating 'the speaker mechanism the word sounds may be produced, thus giving a very novel combination `for holding'the interest of the child. n

Vhat I claim as my invention andydesire to secure by Letters Patent is: l Y

1. In a toy telephone, a supporting struc ture composed or a base and a standard mounted on the base, a receiver arm pivoted on the standard, sound produc-ing ineans comprising compressible pneumatic means mounted within said suppoiting` strijicture, and a connection betweenY said pneumatic means and the receiver arm whereby movement oi'f said arm actuates the pneumatic means.

2. In a device of the class described, in combination, a hollowbase member having sound transmitting yperforations therein` af hollow standard rising from said base, a toy transmitter mounted upon said standard to simulate a telephone instrument, a receiver hook projecting within said standard and pivoted to the walls thereof, a voicing'apparatus housed in said base comprising relativejv ly movable membersand a bellowssecur'ed to said movable member and: said base, means whereby inovemento'f said movable member may cause.enunciatingsounds, means connecting said receiver hook with said movable member wherebyinoveinent of the hook` in one direction may cause the expansion of said bellows. y

3. In a device of the class described, in

combination, a hollow base member, a soundmg apparatus housed in said base ineinber having relatively movable operative elements, inea-ns whereby relative movement otsaid elements in one direction only causes sof sound, ahollow standard rising from said base, a leverpivoted to the standard having one end projecting thereinto and the other end projecting outwardly therefrom., means f connecting one of said movable elements with the inwardly proyectingl end of said lever,

means to normally return said lever vto the p cord connecting said toy receii'iei'rto said base.

'/l. -In a device oithe class described, in com- .-bination, a hollow base member, a hollow` standard rising' from saidbase, a toy transmitter mounted upon said standard to simun late a telephone instrument, a receiver hook projecting within said standard and Apivoted.

to the walls thereof, a voicingapparatus 'housed' -in said `base com irisin relativel movable members, a bellows secured to said movable member and saidbase, meanswhereby movement of said movable member may cause enunciating sounds, meansy connecting saidreceiver hook with said movable member lwhereby movement oi the vhook in one direction may cause the expansion of said bellows.

5. In combination with a toy telephone set comprising` a supporting structure composed oit a base and a standard mounted on the base, a dummy transmitter and a dummy receiver,

one of which dummy elements is movable, a

plurality of sound producing devices including a compressible pneumatic meansmounted withinV the supporting' structure and a connectionbetween said pneumatic ineansvand the movable element'oi' theV telephone setV n whereby movement thereof actuates the pneumatic means.

Jeiiiiy HOWELL coNKLiN. 

